Vasser to Team Rahal for 2002

[f1manoz]

From Espn.com:

"After vowing last month to hire two Americans for his CART team in 2002, Bobby Rahal is already halfway to that promise.

ESPN.com has that learned Rahal hired Jimmy Vasser here over the weekend to drive either the Shell Lola-Ford or the Miller Lola-Ford in next year's FedEx Championship and also compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Following Sunday's Molson Indy Vancouver, Vasser confirmed he was leaving Patrick Racing for Team Rahal.

"Yeah, Pat (Patrick) had the option on me and he chose not to take it so I'm finally getting together with Bobby," said the 35-year-old Californian who now resides in Las Vegas.

"I really enjoyed working with Jim McGee and the guys at Patrick's, but I'm looking forward to running for Team Rahal and also going to Indy."

Rahal, who tried to hire Vasser away from Chip Ganassi two years ago, admitted last week he was pursuing the 1996 CART champion.

"I'm interested in Jimmy, he would be a good guy to lead this team," said Rahal, who is expected to test former Toyota Atlantic champions Alex Barron and Buddy Rice for his other seat.

Vasser's move is the second big one of CART's "silly season," and both involve Team Rahal.

Kenny Brack, currently locked in a four-way battle for the 2001 CART title, announced last month he was leaving Rahal for the Target/Ganassi operation in 2002. And Rahal has made it clear Max Papis' contract will not be renewed.

CART currently has just four Americans in its 26-car lineup -- Michael Andretti, Bryan Herta, Memo Gidley and Vasser.

"I'd like to give a young American the same opportunity that Jim Trueman gave me," said Rahal, whose big break came in the early 1980s when Trueman took him into champ cars, where he captured three CART crowns and the '86 Indy 500.

Rice is currently under contract to Rahal, who has openly praised Barron's untapped abilities.

It's not known whether Vasser would be in the Shell or Miller car in CART, but Rahal indicated Miller definitely wants to return to Indianapolis next May.

Vasser is the only CART regular to have competed in the last two Indy 500s -- ironically driving for ex-boss Ganassi this year.

Patrick, one of CART's co-founders and now in his fifth decade as a champ car owner, acquired Vasser this season after Ganassi cut him loose from the remaining year of his contract.

Recently, Patrick tested American Townsend Bell, the 2001 Indy Lights champion, at Mid-Ohio and Chicago and was rumored to be seriously considering running Bell in place of Roberto Moreno at the upcoming oval races in Germany and England.

But Moreno, the oldest driver on the CART circuit at 42, may have nullified any such move by driving to an impressive victory in Sunday's race at Vancouver.

Asked about his future following his second CART win, Moreno replied: "Mr. Patrick has given me the opportunity of my life and it's up to him whether I stay. He's got the option on my contract and I hope he can take it."

Patrick, who currently campaigns Vasser and Moreno with only one major sponsor (Visteon), declined to discuss their status, simply stating he would definitely have one car in 2002 and possibly two, depending on sponsorship. It's believed he would pursue Scott Dixon and Oriol Servia, in addition to trying to work something out with Bell."

Realistically, little surprise in this announcement. It's been rumour for quite a while, and appeared a dead certainty once Brack left.

Questions:

Where will Papis end up?
How many cars will Patrick run next year? And who?
Who will in the second Rahal seat?

And I thought I'd get this in again:

KING BOB!!!

[kuchi]

Well good for Jimmy, I have always liked him. The rahal cars have proved to be at the top of the pack each weekend, not have the Patrick this year. As for where will papis go?, well he might end up at pat's, I don't know, he ain't young so it's tough to get a seat. Now, who will drive alongside with Vasser?, I hope rice, he has speed and skills, and in the past years it has been proven that the veteran-rookie combo has worked perfectly.

[GanjaGrizz]

Jimmy Vasser and Memo Gidley would make a good all American team! Better the Brack , Papis thats for sure....

[SevenGrain]

It's hard to fathom that Jimmy Vasser can still get a top-tier ride after four seasons of underachievement. Hopefully Rahal will be able to motivate Vasser to return to the form he showed in 95 and 96.

The second seat... Likely Rice, although Rahal hasn't even tested the guy yet, but has an option on his services. Rahal also ran Casey Mears last year at Fontana. Memo Gidley and Alex Barron are also possibilities. Gidley has the opportunity to make the most impact on Rahal's decision as he is currently in a Champ Car.

I imagine Townsend Bell will end up in Vasser's old Patrick ride because he has not only tested well, but he brings much needed sponsorship to the team.

We may likely see Papis in ALMS next season if he can't find a ride in CART.

[Liz]

Papis has experience in sports cars and the right temperment, so I'd vote with SevenGrain that is where he will end up. I'm glad Jimmy's birth certificate got him another chance; perhaps without the need to pursue actual money next year, he will shape up and drive like a Brazilian.

I know nothing about Buddy Rice or Townsend Bell, except that apparently they too have the correct parentage, so will wait and see. Rahal has been eager to field an All American team and it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Brack should go back to the Brand X Racing League where ramming people off the track is more acceptable. Or possibly NASCAR, where he can also extend his talents to throwing drinks on people and knocking them down, if he likes.

[Emfa]

Originally posted by Liz
.....
Brack should go back to the Brand X Racing League where ramming people off the track is more acceptable. Or possibly NASCAR, where he can also extend his talents to throwing drinks on people and knocking them down, if he likes.

Didn't we hear somewhere that part of Brack's attraction to the Ganassi deal was that he has a Nascar outfit?!? Hmmmm...... may be more to this than meets the eye!

[GanjaGrizz]

Originally posted by Liz
.

Brack should go back to the Brand X Racing League where ramming people off the track is more acceptable. Or possibly NASCAR, where he can also extend his talents to throwing drinks on people and knocking them down, if he likes.

Couldn't of said it better myself...

P.S. Maybe he could even replace the Ferrari #1 driver , he does have experience in ramming...

[KC]

I think I see Rahal working here. Bring veteran all round racer like Vasser to mentor a new driver like Buddy Rice.

On another driver front, it appears that Townsend Bell might be taking over Vasser's seat at Patrick Racing. I think this might be because of PacWest's recent monetary struggles.

[gomick]

1996 : champion
1997 : 2nd
1998 : 3rd
1999 : 10th ?
2000 : 6th (finished higher than montoya)
2001 : started well, lot of badluck since....

glad to here jimmy get a drive with a good team in 2002 - he shouldnt have any sponsorship problems with team rahal


brack rams carpentier in driver error and you can him, 1 mnistake wow - look how wide on the road castroneves was when there was contact between himself and brack (50-50 racing incident), deferran and brack another racing incident which both men got away with.....kenny is 3rd in points and finished 4th last year, i think he can drive on a road course (2nd f3000!)....and if you are so keen for him to go back to "brand x racing league", why is it that kenny is leading oval points in 2001, is it because CART drivers cant race on ovals, no it isnt - poor little helio and gil will have to get over racing incidents, comiserations to patriq carpentier - right place at wrong time

[R]

Well said Gomick, I didn't even want to comment on the "Kenny Brack shows he can't drive on road circuits" thread, as I saw it as a flame thread, which is very unusual in our Indy forum. I could have quoted your entire post, you are absolutely right.

[jetsetter]

Good to see Jimmy get a good drive for 2002. Lets hope he can have a good shot at winning the title.

[BootsOntheSide]

Ever since Memo Gidley started out in CART I've had a strong view of him. He seems like a real character,a commited and passionate racer, and a blooming fast driver, and has shown far more than Alex Barron (Mr Rent-a-drive), Buddy Rice (his name would suit IRL) or Max Papis (F1 Reject turned CART reject)

[R]

Vasser and Gidley, that would be a strong team.